Browsing by Author "Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga"

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    Biolarviciding for malaria vector control: Acceptance and associated factors in southern Tanzania
    (Elsevier, 2021) Matindo, Athuman Yusuph; Kapalata, Secilia Ngʼweshemi; Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga; Meshi, Eugene Benjamin; Munisi, David Zadock
    In the struggle towards malaria elimination, the government of Tanzania scaled up nationwide biolarviciding to supplement existing vector control measures. As with any community-based intervention, success of biolarviciding depends on acceptability to the community. This study sought to ascertain acceptance of biolarviciding among communities in southern Tanzania. A mixed-method study involved administration of questionnaires to 400 community members, with 32 key informant interviews and five in-depth interviews also held in selected councils of southern Tanzania. A multistage sampling method was employed in selecting community members, with purposive sampling used in selecting key informant and in-depth interviewees. The study found high community acceptance (80.3%) despite very low (19.3%) knowledge on biolarviciding. Community perception that biolarvicide is effective in reducing malaria infection was found to be a significant predictor of community acceptance to biolarviciding: those who perceived biolarvicide as effective in reducing malaria were five times more likely to accept biolarviciding compared to those with a negative perception (odds ratio ¼ 4.67, 95% CI: 1.89–11.50, P ¼ 0.001). We conclude that biolarviciding received high acceptance among community members in southern Tanzania and therefore the implementation is likely to get strong support from community members. To enhance and make community acceptance sustainable, heath education to enhance the level of community knowledge on biolarviciding is recommended.
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    Community involvement in the mass capture of Red-billed Queleas Quelea quele adjacent to protected areas: the case of Chemba District, Dodoma, Tanzania
    (National Inquiry Services Center (NISC), 2023) Mmbaga, Naza Emanuel; Mongi, Richard John; Kilonzo, Mhuji Bukheti; Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga
    The mass capture and utilisation of Red-billed Queleas Quelea quelea as a source of food is practiced in different African countries. The current study sought information on the trapping methods and techniques used by local communities in Chemba District, Tanzania, taking into account the respondents’ age, gender and occupation. It also captured the economic contributions and challenges associated with trapping queleas across the three study villages. Semi-structured questionnaires, focus group discussions and direct observations were used. Male respondents and adult farmers were found to participate most in quelea trapping. Queleas were used both as a source of food and income. Both a modern method (i.e. mist-netting) and traditional local trapping methods (e.g. grass basket traps and sticky tree resin) were reported to be used, but the combination of the modern and local methods was the most effective. Reported challenges included poor trapping techniques, scarcity of markets, and chemical spraying as a quelea control measure. Based on the results, we recommend detailed research on improving mass-trapping techniques and developing a marketing strategy to promote sales of the captured birds. As a long-term measure, these will contribute to improve both the livelihoods of local people and the ecological health of the communities.
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    Dietary pattern as a predictor of colorectal cancer among general health population in Arusha Tanzania: A population based descriptive study
    (Academic Journals, 2017) Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga; Ntwenya, Julius Edward; Ngoma, Twalib; Buza, Joram; Mpolya, Emmanuel; Petrucka, Pammla; Paul, Edwin
    Proper diet is important in preventing many diseases, and colorectal cancer is no exception. The aim of this study was to identify major dietary patterns among the general population in Arusha Tanzania to determine whether diet is one of the predictors contributing to the observed pattern and distribution of colorectal cancer in Tanzania. A population based cross-sectional study recruited a sample of selfreported healthy individuals residing in four wards of the City of Arusha, Tanzania. A total of 549 participants were recruited on a voluntary basis. The Food Frequency Questionnaire and the World Health Organization (WHO) Step® survey tool were used to collect data. Factor analysis, Pearson correlation (Pearson’s r), and logistic regression were used to analyze the data.Two major dietary patterns, namely “healthy” and “western”, and one minor pattern existed among the study population. The "healthy" pattern was generally associated with females (56.2%, p=0.074), people with primary level of education (62.7%, p=0.667), age category of 25 to 44 (66.3%, p= 0.370), normal range body mass index (BMI) (42.4%, p=0.967), self-employed (78.5%), non-smokers (86.6%) and non-alcohol drinkers (51%), although the differences were not statistically significant. "Western" dietary pattern adherence was associated with area of residence (p=0.0001), gender (p=0.003) and BMI status (p=0.04) in univariate analysis. In multivariate analysis, higher odds were observed in individuals aged 25 to 34 (OR=1.104, 95%, CI (0.537-2.2267) and 45 to 54 OR=1.091, 95%, CI(0.521-2.283), alcohol drinkers (OR=1.2, 95%, CI(0.767-1.877), people with college or high levels of education (OR=0. 853, 95%, CI(0.260-2.803) and OR=0.550, 95%,CI(0. 159-1.897), smokers (OR=1.030, 95%, CI(0.519-2.044) and overweight or obese (OR=2.676, 95%, CI (0.981-7.298) and OR=2.045, 95%, CI (0.767-5.454). These data support our previous hypothesis that diet could be an important potential predictor of the previously observed pattern and distribution of colorectal cancer in Tanzania.
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    Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents (MEGA): study protocol for a cluster randomised trial of an integrated adolescent nutrition intervention in Dodoma, Tanzania
    (BMJ Publishing Group, 2022) Wang, Dongqing; Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga; Modest, Andrea R; Young, Tara; Ismail, Abbas; Mwanyika-Sando, Mary; Tinkasimile, Amani; Mosha, Dominic; Malero, Augustine; Vuai, Said; Fawzi, Wafaie W
    Introduction Secondary schools have the transformative potential to advance adolescent nutrition and provide a unique entry point for nutrition interventions to reach adolescents and their families and communities. Integrated school nutrition interventions offer promising pathways towards improving adolescent nutrition status, food security and building sustainable skill sets. Methods and analysis The Meals, Education, and Gardens for In-School Adolescents (MEGA) project aims to implement and evaluate an integrated, school-based nutrition intervention package among secondary schools in the Chamwino District of Dodoma, Tanzania. MEGA is a cluster-randomised controlled trial, including six public secondary schools assigned to three different arms. Two schools will receive the full intervention package, including school meals, school gardens, nutrition education and community workshops. Two schools will receive the partial intervention package, including the school garden, nutrition education and community workshops. Two schools will serve as the controls and will not receive any intervention. The intervention will be implemented for one academic year. Baseline and end-line quantitative data collection will include 750 adolescents and 750 parents. The domains of outcomes for adolescents will include haemoglobin concentrations, anthropometry, educational outcomes and knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding nutrition, agriculture and health. The domains of outcomes for parents will include knowledge, attitudes and practices of nutrition, agriculture and health. End-line focus group discussions will be conducted among selected adolescents, parents and teachers to assess the facilitators and barriers associated with the intervention. Ethics and dissemination. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (approval number: IRB20-1623), the Institutional Research Review Committee at the University of Dodoma (approval number: MA.84/261/02) and the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research (approval number: NIMR/HO/R.8a/Vol. IX/3801). A manuscript with the research findings will be developed for publication.
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    Parents’ practices and barriers in reducing aflatoxins contamination in complementary foods for children in central regions of Tanzania
    (Science Publishing Group, 2020) Ngoma, Selestin Joseph; Tiisekwa, Bendantukuka; Ngowi, Agatha Fabian; Ngwashemi, Secilia Kapalata; Katalambula, Leonard Kamanga
    Contamination of complementary foods by aflatoxin is a serious public health threat that requires attention to ensure that proper actions are taken to limit its health effects. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess parents’ practices and barriers associated with reducing aflatoxins contamination in complementary foods among parents with children aged 6-23 months in central regions of Tanzania. Semi-structured questionnaire (364) respondents and focus group discussion (FGD) with (121) respondents were used to collect data. The information collected included socio-demographic variables, parents’ barriers, and actions to mitigate aflatoxin contamination and its reduction strategies. The results of the fitted model revealed that among proposed predictors of barriers for proper processing of grains/nuts to reduce spoilage/aflatoxin/ mould contamination at home, only a number of children that a participant had was statistically significant. The family with 3-7 children, the estimated odds that the barrier is time consuming rather than costly, was 0.305 times the estimated odds for the family with 1-2 children. This means that parents with 3-7 children were less likely to report that time consumed was the barrier rather than the costs involved in comparison to parents with 1-2 children. On the other hand, the estimated odds for parents with 3-7 children that the barrier reduces food quantity instead of costs, was equal to 2.389 times the estimated odds for parents with 1-2 children. The results of multiple logistic regression model for applying traditional fungicides/pesticides for storing crops showed that respondents aged above 34 years (OR=0.576, 95% CI: 0.342-0.969) were significantly few in applying traditional fungicides/pesticides for storing crops than those respondents aged less or equal to 34 years old. The respondents with no/incomplete primary education (OR=2.872, 95% CI: 1.283-6.427) and primary education (OR=2.256, 95% CI: 1.194-4.264) were significantly more in applying traditional fungicides/pesticides for storing crops than never been to school respondents. FGDs revealed that drying crops before taking them for storage, use of traditional herbs for example ash and mud applied/smeared/sprayed on the grain before and during storage was used to preserve crops/grain against fungi. It was revealed that no any formal or informal education had been provided about fungi contamination, and even control, rather, the respondents were generally preventing (mould) aflatoxins through experience. Therefore, there is a need to educate the community on good agricultural practices for the better food safety and health of the community in general.